Toilets are an essential part of society. We use them frequently and they help keep our homes more sanitary. Thankfully we no longer have to deal with the days of dumping sewage out the window!
Most homes have 1 or 2 toilets that are used on a daily basis. For as much as we use them, we take toilets for granted.
Of course we get very concerned about our toilet when it becomes clogged (due to too much toilet paper right? Yeah right!).
But have you ever replaced your toilet? For most people the answer is “no”. Most people will live with the same toilet their entire life and since most toilets look the same they rarely go out of style.
Replacing them is somewhat unusual.
Occasionally you’ll need to replace a toilet. Possible reasons for replacing your toilet are:
- Chip or crack in the porcelain
- Leak due to the structure of the toilet
- Unsightly water marks that just won’t go away
- Water conscious homeowner (changing to a low water toilet)
- Bathroom remodel (sewage lines changed)
- Changing from floor mounted to wall mounted toilet
Now that you’ve removed the old toilet you’ve got a problem on your hands – what do you do with the new toilet? Your old toilet is big, it takes up space, and you’re unsure if someone else would even want it. Will the trash man take it away?
In this article we’ll discuss your options. Some are easy while others require a little more effort. We’ve compiled a list of good options for toilet disposal. Choose the best option for you and your family.
This article assumes that you’ve already removed your toilet from the bathroom. If you need to know how to remove a toilet from the floor or wall refer to this article about bathroom toilet removal.
Where To Get Rid Of An Old Toilet (8 Ways To Dispose Of Your Toilet)
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Can Toilets Go In The Garbage Can
One of the most common questions we get is “can we put an old toilet in the garbage”. The answer is yes, but obviously you can’t put the whole toilet in a garbage can. First it won’t fit. Second, it’s extremely heavy.
If you put a whole toilet in a trashcan and it’s sticking out, then the garbage man probably won’t take it. You’ll need to do a few things first.
How To Put Toilet In Trash
First, find a wide open area where you can put a large tarp or blanket down. You’ll want lots of space.
Porcelain tends to shatter into small sharp pieces when being broken. You don’t want tiny pieces of porcelain in your house, garage, or on a lawn. Porcelain can cut skin similar to glass so be careful.
We’d also advise to put a tarp over the toilet when breaking it down. This will help minimize the area of clean up.
To break the toilet into smaller pieces use a small hammer and gently knock the sides. You don’t need to create tiny pieces, so larger pieces are fine. Just make sure the pieces are small enough to fit into a garbage can.
Once you’ve finished shake the blanket into the garbage can and sweep or vacuum the area. Small pieces of the toilet could cut people who are walking barefoot.
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Waste Management May Charge If Pick Up Requested ($50-100 dollars)
Another option for disposing your toilet is calling your local waste management company. While most garbage companies won’t pick your toilet up if you leave it near your trash can, they will pick it up for a price.
Call them and ask for a special pick up. Most garbage companies will charge an extra fee for extra large items. If $50-100 is reasonable for you then it might be your best bet.
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Freecycle Nonprofit Organization
Have you ever heard of Freecycle? Freecycle is a network of people that aim to reduce waste. They began in Arizona and have since spread to 110 countries.
Recycling is key for this community and household products are a large part of the recycling process.
If you live near a large city there’s likely a Freecycle community that you can share your toilet with.
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Salvage Yard
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. The salvage yard was once a place where people never visited. These days people flock to salvage yards to find vintage items and treasures.
Some people visit the salvage yard to avoid buying new things and do their part to recycle. I remember visiting the salvage yard with my sister when she first moved into her home.
She ended up buying a vintage light, bathtub, and door handles that looked great. The prices were reasonable and the products still worked fine.
I remember seeing quite a few toilets at the salvage yard – and they seemed to be good sellers.
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Free Sign In Front Of House
If your community allows it, try putting the toilet in your driveway with a “Free” sign. Who knows, someone may need it.
Sure, an old toilet in your driveway won’t look great, but best thing about putting your old toilet in front yard is if someone wants it they will take it and you won’t have to transport it.
Loading it in the car to take it to the dump isn’t easy so let someone else pick it up for you.
It’s polite to include what is wrong with the toilet in case someone plans on using it. If there’s no problems with the toilet share that info too!
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Habitat For Humanity
If you’re toilet is in good working order, consider donating it to Habitat For Humanity. Habitat For Humanity needs toilets because their organization builds houses.
The organization has been around for decades and has a great reputation working in all 50 U.S. States and 70 countries worldwide.
We’re certain there is a Habitat For Humanity chapter near you and we recommend giving them a call to see if they need your toilet. In some cases they will stop by and pick it up!
You can even volunteer with them and help build a house in your community for a deserving family.
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Put Toilet On Craigslist
Craigslist is a popular way to buy and sell items on the internet. Over the past decade Craigslist has expanded to most cities in the U.S. and is a great way to find household items, both new and used.
Be sure to list the toilet in the proper section. We recommend using the “Free” listing in the “For Sale” section. Share a brief description and a few photos. Also, be sure to say if there’s something wrong with the toilet.
Craigslist gets millions of visitors everyday looking for specific items. Whether it’s an old lampshade, couch, or toilet, you can find just about anything on Craigslist. Consider it the classifieds section of the Internet.
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Repurpose Your Toilet In The Garden
This option is for the eclectic soul and should be taken with strong consideration of you neighbors. The last thing you’d want to do is negatively affect resale values in your neighborhood.
However, you could fill up the toilet and use it as a trendy planter. If you’re good with design this might actually work and look good!
You could also paint the toilet a bright color and turn it into modern garden art. This wouldn’t be my style, but I’ve seen all kinds of garden themes in my day (from fences made of bicycles, to a collection of fire hydrants in the front yard).
There are many ways to bring personality to your yard – maybe your old toilet is the answer!
Conclusion
So you’re trying to dispose of your toilet and not sure how to proceed. Maybe you’re renovating your bathroom and upgrading your toilet or maybe you cracked the porcelain throne and need a change.
If you’re into conservation maybe you’ve decided to upgrade to a toilet that uses much less water.
There are various reasons for replacing a toilet but what’s just as important is how to dispose of a toilet. In this article we covered 8 ways to dispose of your toilet. There are plenty of options that range from:
- Putting it in your front yard with a “free” sign
- Paying the garbage company to pick it up
- Carefully breaking it into small pieces and putting it in the trashcan
- Donating it to Habitat For Humanity
- Recycling with Freecycle
- Turn it into yard art (expect to hear from your neighbors)
Disposing of your toilet is something that should be considered wisely. If possible try not to throw it away because every household needs toilets and many people can’t afford them.
We hope this article shared some options for disposal. Check our website for more information on toilets! Thanks for visiting.
